3 year old in casts for 6 weeks

[MsChatterbox]

And he cannot weight bear at all for this time!! I'm gutted. He spends his entire day outside on his bike etc. What am I going to do for 6 weeks... Please hit me up with ideas! Also have a mobile baby so need to consider this with floor activities etc!

I also don't know how to break it to him that this will happen (it's a planned operation next week). He loves playing out with his friends and is going to have to watch from the sidelines 😩.

What can I do to help him not get down about it? He honestly doesn't stop bouncing from the moment he wakes up he doesn't know how to sit still!

Bump

Waterproof covers. Paddling pools, baths etc.

If he's that active could you persuade him to crawl to move around? I was thinking soft play could still work maybe? Will he be in a wheelchair? Reward/ countdown chart with lots of rewards for each day/ part of the day he gets through? Is he at nursery? Will he be going into a boot at any point? Will he be in hospital for a while first? Do the hospital have occupational therapists or similar who could advise on how to entertain him?

Sorry, that's more questions than suggestions! My son is 2y10m and wouldn't understand. Is yours just three or closer to four? Just thinking, if there's a patient's association for the issue he is having surgery on they might be able to suggest things to make life easier for you all. He can't be the first to be in this situation!

Hello! My daughter is 11 now and has had lots of hip surgeries. The operation and part immediately afterwards will be really hard - he will be sore and you will be learning to cope and handle him, but you will be amazed at how he adapts. What is the op, and will he have a cast? I would think lots of brio, duplo, playdoh, crafts, plus lots of parks have some accessible swings (some even have slides and roundabouts) which are great when he is recovered enough. I would not go for watching normal activities from the sidelines but use it as a chance to discover new things. A bit of iPad time is a life saver too. Do you know what equipment you’ll need - for seating and getting around? Good luck!

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Waterproof covers. Paddling pools, baths etc.

Waterproof covers sound great!!

@Notthissticky

If he's that active could you persuade him to crawl to move around? I was thinking soft play could still work maybe? Will he be in a wheelchair? Reward/ countdown chart with lots of rewards for each day/ part of the day he gets through? Is he at nursery? Will he be going into a boot at any point? Will he be in hospital for a while first? Do the hospital have occupational therapists or similar who could advise on how to entertain him?

Yeah they've said he can crawl if playing on the floor so that's something! He's starting preschool in September so will probably just start a week later. Tbh I don't know much about boots etc it's all been very last minute because there was a cancellation and we took the appointment! They said he's too little for a wheelchair so will have to get buggy back out. He's closer to 4 (November) so a bit more understanding I think!

@Bryzoan

Hello! My daughter is 11 now and has had lots of hip surgeries. The operation and part immediately afterwards will be really hard - he will be sore and you will be learning to cope and handle him, but you will be amazed at how he adapts. What is the op, and will he have a cast? I would think lots of brio, duplo, playdoh, crafts, plus lots of parks have some accessible swings (some even have slides and roundabouts) which are great when he is recovered enough. I would not go for watching normal activities from the sidelines but use it as a chance to discover new things. A bit of iPad time is a life saver too. Do you know what equipment you’ll need - for seating and getting around? Good luck!

It's an op to straighten his toes, casts on both his legs... You've just reminded me about a swing in our area he will be able to get on so that's good! The thing with the pad is he usually gets so grouchy after being on it that we've recently taken it away and he's been so much happier so not sure what to do about that! Equipment they literally said carry him in the house and use a pushchair for outdoors!

Not the same situation, but my 2.5yo broke his leg in May and was in a cast for 4 weeks. For the first week he was non-weight bearing and he was very understanding (as long as we kept up with the calpol!)

We bought him a lap tray and a friend had a clear out and dropped off loads of new (to him) toys he could play with on the couch.

We used a Limbo water proof cover for baths.

Once he got his solid cast, he knew he couldn’t stand on it unless his walking shoe was strapped on too.

Consider how he we go to the toilet as if he is potty trained, the casts may make it awkward to get there alone. We had some waterproof bed covers on the couch just in case, and kept night nappies (we were just about to remove at night) to minimise the misery of a wet cast over night!

If he’s closer to 4, then probably a squeeze in many prams with cast. And you have a younger child? Could you try and pick up a double buggy secondhand for the summer with larger seats and wheels? The out and about nipper double gets highly recommended and usually pops up cheap on marketplace. Can resell after the 6 weeks. Might be easier for you to be able to take both children on long walks to distract him

If you can go long walks then days out at national trusts, woodlands, farms, zoos etc might pass some time each day.

@Caspianberg

If he’s closer to 4, then probably a squeeze in many prams with cast. And you have a younger child? Could you try and pick up a double buggy secondhand for the summer with larger seats and wheels? The out and about nipper double gets highly recommended and usually pops up cheap on marketplace. Can resell after the 6 weeks. Might be easier for you to be able to take both children on long walks to distract him

If you can go long walks then days out at national trusts, woodlands, farms, zoos etc might pass some time each day.

I actually have the nipper double already so that's handy!! Yes deffo see lots of long walks and picnics in the picture at least I'll get fit pushing him he's bloody heavy lol!

@PenelopeParallelogram

Not the same situation, but my 2.5yo broke his leg in May and was in a cast for 4 weeks. For the first week he was non-weight bearing and he was very understanding (as long as we kept up with the calpol!)

We bought him a lap tray and a friend had a clear out and dropped off loads of new (to him) toys he could play with on the couch.

We used a Limbo water proof cover for baths.

Once he got his solid cast, he knew he couldn’t stand on it unless his walking shoe was strapped on too.

Consider how he we go to the toilet as if he is potty trained, the casts may make it awkward to get there alone. We had some waterproof bed covers on the couch just in case, and kept night nappies (we were just about to remove at night) to minimise the misery of a wet cast over night!

Lap tray is great shout! Will deffo get one of those covers he loves his baths!

A neighbour's nearly year old ws like this ( broke his leg jumping off the settee).
Within a week, he was heaving himself around the house and garden and basically attempting to carry on as usual. The doctor said it was fine to let him.
Obviously he couldn't run, or walk distances, or climb the slide, but otherwise he just went on playing as normal.

I used a limbo when I broke my leg (even went in the sea with it). They are great.

You'd need to watch him like a hawk, but is it worth getting a small paddling pool and some water toys? It's supposed to be getting hot next week. It could double up as a ball pit.

I hope the surgery goes well.

@Scarby9

A neighbour's nearly year old ws like this ( broke his leg jumping off the settee). Within a week, he was heaving himself around the house and garden and basically attempting to carry on as usual. The doctor said it was fine to let him. Obviously he couldn't run, or walk distances, or climb the slide, but otherwise he just went on playing as normal.

This sounds promising!

@Madcats

I used a limbo when I broke my leg (even went in the sea with it). They are great.

You'd need to watch him like a hawk, but is it worth getting a small paddling pool and some water toys? It's supposed to be getting hot next week. It could double up as a ball pit.

I hope the surgery goes well.

Think I'll deffo need to get some kind of cover!!

I have no experience with toddlers but my cousin broke his arm visiting us when he was 10, within 30 mins of getting back from the hospital he was on a skate board.

Do you have a local toy library?

It looks as if you can get ones just for feet

limboproducts.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqde2mori8QIVGurtCh0W8w39EAAYAiAAEgITcfD_BwE

@Madcats

It looks as if you can get ones just for feet

limboproducts.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqde2mori8QIVGurtCh0W8w39EAAYAiAAEgITcfD_BwE

Thank you for that link!

@sashh

I have no experience with toddlers but my cousin broke his arm visiting us when he was 10, within 30 mins of getting back from the hospital he was on a skate board.

Do you have a local toy library?

No we don't! But he has a few friends so hopefully will be able to arrange some playdates!

Realised I missed the age out of my previous post. Nearly 3 year old.

@Scarby9

Realised I missed the age out of my previous post. Nearly 3 year old.

Well that's even more promising then as I thought you were referring to a 1 year old! I told my son this morning he's excited to crawl like his sister bless him hope she doesn't start walking 🤣

My daughter had hip surgery as a toddler. It broke my heart for her. But .. strangely not hers .. she adapted really quickly I didn't believe them but she did.
Loads of art stuff. Lots of play dough. Rugs out side. Bugs in a pot magnifying glass.
Have you seen hip spica tables and chairs ? You can rent or build or buy. They are amazing. We did 10 weeks, and half way through hot one. Brilliant. Is it hip surgery?
Best of luck and love, better in summer then nursery and school xxx

Join the STEPS Facebook group, for parents of kids with lower limb conditions: loads of experience.